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American Idol 8: Salt Lake City Auditions

SLC Crowd

Salt Lake City, Utah is now synonymous with Idol runner-up . The American Idol judges struck gold in the city last year, but would the auditions be as promising two seasons in a row?

The SLC episode of opened with David Osmond, 19, yes one of the famous Osmonds, who lives in Utah. He’s a good-looking, clean cut guy with a bit of his own sad story. Despite belonging to a famous family, Osmond’s life isn’t all sunshine. He, like his father, suffers from the very debilitating disease MS. You’d never know it to see him at his audition, however. Osmond has a nice voice, if his song was a bit over-done. Paula Abdul advised him to “start thinking of yourself as one solo artist.” Osmond emerged from the audition room with golden ticket in hand.

Salt Lake City was off to a running start.

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American Idol 8: Jacksonville Auditions

Joshua Ulloa

The Jacksonville auditions of opened with Joshua Ulloa, who bears a superficial resemblance to former Idol (Season 1) contender Justin Guarini. Ulloa added sound effects to his singing. His voice was soulful and fairly decent, but his showmanship was spectacular. He managed to win over the panel to score his ticket to Hollywood.

It was a fairly exciting beginning to the Florida auditions. Would they finish as strongly as they began?

 

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American Idol 8: The Joanna Pacitti Controversy


Pretty, dark-haired Joanna Pacitti arrived at her audition to with plenty of experience and her own loyal fan base. In fact, Pacitti was already known to one judge on the panel. Her beautiful voice won her a ticket to Hollywood - and perhaps, a chance to win the world’s biggest reality competition. Some Idol fans, however, say that Pacitti is already far too pro for the show whose purpose is to find undiscovered singers.

had his own album before he joined (and subsequently won) Idol. Kristy Lee Cook and Carly Smithson had both once been signed to record labels. But Joanna Pacitti’s resume is even more impressive - and fairly extensive.

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American Idol 8: Louisville Auditions

Louisville auditions

held their Louisville auditions at the famous Churchill Downs racetrack, known for the Kentucky Derby, great hats and mint juleps. The track officially opened in 1875, and it’s been a Louisville mainstay ever since.

Louisville, by the way, is pronounced by most Kentucky natives thusly: Loo-uh-vull. This city is not pronounced, as seems to think, as Looey-ville. Nor it is called Loo-iss-ville. The s is silent and there’s no long e sound - unless you are a Yankee. Outsiders like to say the state is somehow divided over the pronunciation issue. This is not the case - we’re just good-natured enough to poke a bit of fun at those who are. Say it with me, now - Loo-uh-vull.

But I digress. The show opened not with a Louisville native but a Cincinnati girl named Tiffany Shedd. This bleach blonde wore too much make-up and sang abominably. Her very long exit scene was punctuated with rage. We can’t all be singers.

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American Idol 8: San Francisco Auditions


An winner, thus far, has never come out of the San Fransisco auditions, though runner-up Katharine McPhee (season 5) first auditioned here.

Will this be the year that an Idol is found in the city by the bay? Some of the auditions were promising…others were barely tolerable.

The evening kicked off with Tatiana Del Toro of the beautiful accent - which, evidently, she can turn on and off at will. She was a lovely girl in a terrible dress with a super-annoying giggle, but she showed up to her audition already predestined to succeed. Her psychic friend predicted that Del Toro would make it all the way to the Top 12. I also, once had a psychic friend, but had to give her up on account of the phone bills. At any rate, Del Toro pleaded with the judges and eventually won her way to Hollywood. Cowell found her “so dramatic,” but was a little more positive in his remarks, saying he voted yes “because you are wild, and I like it.” She’s also a little too savvy for Idol viewers - the girl showed up with her press kit.

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American Idol 8: Music in Kansas City


Idol‘s auditions continued in the Midwest, as the search for this year’s undiscovered singer raged on throughout the country. Season 7 winner David Cook paid a visit to the thousands who auditioned in his hometown, Kansas City, Missouri. Despite some confusion, it is indeed in Missouri. Another alum was also on hand, but not to whip the crowd into a frenzy. Last year’s fourth-place finisher was at the auditions with his brother. More on that development later.

Kansas City auditions began with Chelsea Marquardt, very blonde and very cute. Her voice was unfortunately very flat also. gave it to her straight, saying “you are not a very good singer.” That’s the breaks.

Ashley Anderson, as tall and willowy as a model, was a very good singer. Her beautiful vocals and perfect tone won over the entire panel and she skipped out the door with golden ticket in hand. Just like that, and Idol was off and running in KC.

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American Idol 8: Let the Auditions Begin

American Idol 8 Phoenix Auditions

’s Season 8 auditions kicked off last night in Phoenix, Arizona. Day 1 saw the appearance of new judge Kara DioGuardi before the screaming hoard. It also saw the appearance of contestants like Tuan Nguyen, who will certainly win the biggest ‘fro award, and Emily Wynn-Hughes of the pink, orange and red hair. Though both had the locks, only one had the chops - Emily won her golden ticket to Hollywood, Tuan I guess is headed back home.

And so, the weeks-long Idol auditions began.

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Idol’s New Judge on Season 8

Kara DioGuardi

The premiere of ’s Season 8 is now only days away, and everyone’s trying to get the scoop before the show airs. So what does the reality show’s newest judge have to say about her first season with the show?

, along with the other judges in the panel, has been doing the promotional blitz in the weeks leading up to the show. But DioGuardi is one of the biggest stories of the year - she’s the one who’s new. “I hope people find I bring something to the show that’s different, and I can help these contestants learn something, whether they win or not,” she recently told reporters.

Many are honing in on the fact that DioGuardi will now share a unique position with longtime Idol judge . The latter is no longer the sole female on the panel, but does that mean we can expect catfights? “I’ve never been of the thinking that women should drag each other down,” DioGuardi said. “There’s definitely times Paula and I voice our opinion and it’s of the same ilk,” she admitted. “But it’s all fun. Nobody’s going back to their room crying.”

Ah, but will anyone run off the stage crying? That’s what we’re all waiting to see.

(You can find all the American Idol 8 posts here.)

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Simon Cowell on Season 8 Changes

Simon CowellStill hard at work promoting the new season of , judge Simon Cowell hosted a conference call to let loose a series of comments on the upcoming changes for the popular reality program.

“I have no idea whether this is going to work or not,” Cowell admitted, when asked about the addition of to the judges’ table. “The thing I do support is at least trying new things. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t.”

Highly critical judge is even looking forward to bringing back the wild card round - an idea I hotly oppose. “I think it’s a good idea,” the judge waxed optimistic. “I wasn’t crazy about the process we went through the last couple years, where we were given a group of contestants that you were bored with by show five.”

And though no episodes of Idol have aired, Cowell does have the inside track. While we have yet to see any auditions, the judges have already been through Hollywood Week. He called the finalists “an interesting bunch.”

The judge also agreed with the decision to pass on Idol Gives Back this season. “I don’t think it feels right to tell people who are having trouble with their mortgage that they need to be giving money.”

(You can find all the American Idol 8 posts here.)

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American Idol: Setting the Stage for Change?

American Idol Judges Season 8

Though there is some possibility that it’s all falsified, new, inside information regarding has suddenly surfaced. What is allegedly an interoffice memo from inside the walls of FOX has given clues about what fans can potentially expect from Season 8.

The following information might be spoilers…or simply rumors used to guarantee that the show gets a solid first week.

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